The first step to developing a success mindset is AWARENESS.
Most people in the world walk around in an “unconscious” state of mind, not paying attention to their thoughts at all. In fact, most people think their thoughts are thinking them! Meaning they believe they have no control over their thoughts.
So, they look at the results they don’t like and complain about them. Or worry about them. Or get angry about them. In other words, they FOCUS on those bad results they don’t like and they don’t realize they are in control of their own thoughts.
The Reticular Activating System
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) part of the unconscious mind listens to that complaining. The RAS says, “Oh, you’re thinking about this bad result a lot! It must be important to you. I’m on the lookout for more of that bad result!” And it matches up the “outside world” to give you more of that bad result.
Then we complain some more. We focus on the bad outcome or the bad feelings. The RAS listens and matches it up again, and on it goes. This cycle is why most people have very little change in their lives.
But the good news is that there is a way off cycle. The first step is AWARENESS.
Notice
If you want to quit matching up bad results, you must start noticing the thoughts you are thinking and the things you’re talking about. Notice when you are thinking or saying things that you DON’T want to repeat unconsciously.
Because when you catch a negative thought or dialog, you have just taken yourself OFF automatic pilot. This is the first key to success mindset! Become aware of the repetitive thoughts and decide you no longer want to continue thinking them.
Whether you’re new to success mindset or a seasoned mindset master, all of us have times when we notice negative thoughts. Awareness is the first and most important step to making a different choice.
Developing a Success Mindset is Ongoing
It may be an impossible dream to become 100% aware and 100% positive, and that’s okay. The key is that we’re getting better and better at it every day.
I recently spoke to Claudia King on her podcast Strong Enough about developing a success mindset. It is a continual and ongoing process that will take the rest of our lives! And this is a good thing! If you become aware of your thoughts and realize you have to power to choose different thoughts, then see how much better you feel once you choose more positive thoughts, you will never want to back to automatic thinking!